It seems lately everyone is into weaving. This past summer I was shopping with my daughter in law at Joann’s and this mini loom caught my eye. I actually thought it might be something to do with the grandsons.

The last time I wove anything was on one of those metal looms using loops to make pot holders. Yeah, I’m showing my age.

I forgot about the loom when I got home then when I was gathering all my scraps for the 4th Quarter challenge I found it under a pile. Ok, let’s see how this works and what all the hoopla is about. Looks easy enough.

I have a tubful of yarn so that’s where I started. I thought an autumn theme would be nice. The black acrylic/wool combo also has a little silver bling, the pink ball is mohair and the multi colored yarn is thick and thin with a little blue and white thin threads. I also added some polyester and silk scraps and hand dyed boucle. The ball of yarn under the string is the alpaca I used to make my Ginkgo leaves a while back. Not pictured is hand dyed green pencil roving.

They don’t sell the warp so I decided to just use string. Besides I didn’t want to invest in anything if it was something that I wasn’t going to do a lot of.

I didn’t like using the shuttle, so I just used my fingers. Here it is on the loom:

Here’s a closeup:

The instructions were not helpful so I ended up finding a video online. I used the alpaca as fringe. I wasn’t following a particular pattern just kind of winging it.

Of course, I had to hide the ends which was a lot more fiddly than I like. But I like the overall look. I decided to make it a wall hanging and cut a piece of bamboo to tie it to. You can’t tell from the picture, but it’s hanging on a light gold wall. Sorry about the shadow .

It took me a lot longer than anticipated. But I’m happy with the results. I may try another to felt. But I don’t see myself investing any larger looms. I admire those of you who have the patience to dress a loom and weave away.

23 Responses to Mini Weaving

Hi, Elizabeth , yes to dress the loom is most work of all. I recognized some wool of yours, I have the same 😉 For playing with it and having quick result, wich children like, it is a nice piece .
Lovely warm colors and I like the way of hanging.

The colours are lovely Marilyn, the weaving is very neat and I like the hanging device. Although using the string wasn’t intended to be part of the design, it very much is – the white streaks make the colours show to their best.

Thanks Lyn! I agree the white does add a nice touch. I was very pleased with the end result. But working with string especially having to tie it off at the top was a bit challenging since it kept unraveling.

Marilyn, I think you show great promise in weaving! What you made–even though very small–is quite wonderful in the pattern, colors and clean lines. ( Maybe that’s where I should have started!) Dressing a large floor loom is tedious and frustrating, but the weaving is a delight. You get out of it what you put into it. Something Confucius said?

Thanks Cathy! But I’m not sure there is bigger loom is in my future. I did enjoy putting together the colors and textures and of course being able to use some stuff in my scrap box. I did find the process a bit tedious. I guess I don’t have a lot of patience. :-). But I did get a nice wall hanging so perhaps Confucius is right.

You’re right, Marilyn, so many people are into weaving lately! I see a lot of nice works by fellow fibre enthusiasts, and love it when I see some other materials added to the weave, like ribbons or art yarns. Yours looks really nice!

Traditional weaving techniques have yet to grab my attention, if I do any it will be with handfuls of roving woven together before being felted but your piece will be a great inspiration for your grandsons and a great way to use up those scraps of yarn we all have from the ends of projects!

Thanks Teri! I love the idea of using up those scraps and the yarn I have laying around. I wouldn’t have tackled anything larger, but was curious to try. Next time it will definitely be a felting project. 🙂